JP2011219373A - Food and drink containing luffa and nitrogen monoxide-produced substance - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide foods and drinks which have remedying effect for the symptoms of dry syndromes such as a dry mouth, dry eyes and a dry skin, and is utilizable for foods for specified health use, nutritional supplements, functional foods, compositions for remedying dry syndromes, compositions for remedying dry skins, compositions for remedying the moisture of skins or the like.SOLUTION: By jointly using luffa and/or the processed substance thereof and a nitrogen monoxide (NO)-produced substance, by their multiplication physiological effects, the water permeation function of living cells is accelerated to remedy the dry syndromes such as a dry mouth, dry eyes and a dry skin. In particular, it is superior in the effect of remedying the moisture of a skin. As the nitrogen monoxide (NO)-produced substance, citrulline, arginine, argininosuccinic acid or their salts are preferable.

Description

  The present invention relates to a food or drink containing loofah and a nitric oxide producing substance having an effect of improving dry syndrome.

  Dry syndrome (dry syndrome) is a dry phenomenon that occurs in various parts of the body due to problems in the living environment. Typical diseases include dry mouth (xerostomia), dry eye (dry eye), dry skin (dry skin) and the like. In dry mice, salivary secretion is reduced, and the mouth is dry and sticky, causing discomfort such as caries, periodontal disease, bad breath, unclear taste, and sleep disorders. In addition, dry eyes are accompanied by symptoms such as dry eyes, pain in the eyes, redness of the eyes, and eye discomfort. Also, with dry skin, the skin moisture and sebum amount are insufficient, and the skin becomes dry. It is said that there are an estimated 8 million patients in dry eye and dry mouse. Since these symptoms cause a significant reduction in the quality of life (QOL) of the consumer, it is desirable to be improved by appropriate treatment.

  In particular, dry skin not only affects the appearance due to the roughness of the face and limbs, but also significantly reduces the QOL due to itching. For such dry skin symptoms, conventionally, countermeasures such as humidification, heat retention, and application of an external preparation have been common. For example, hechima water obtained from the cucurbitaceae plant Hetchima has been used as a folk remedy for skin external preparations that are effective in preventing wound healing and physical water evaporation.

  On the other hand, nitric oxide (NO) functions as a physiologically functional substance in the living body. The nitric oxide (NO) is produced when citrulline is produced from arginine by NO synthase. Conventionally, research on the relationship between the physiological function of nitric oxide and the development of pathological conditions has been actively conducted, and by now, by increasing nitric oxide in the whole body or a predetermined body part, angina pectoris or myocardium It has been reported that diseases such as ischemic heart disease such as infarction, cerebral infarction, arteriosclerotic arterial occlusion, various infectious diseases, impotence and the like are improved or treated (see Patent Document 1 below).

  However, there was no report that the symptoms of the above-mentioned dry syndrome were improved by increasing nitric oxide. In addition, there has been no report clarifying the relationship between the physiological effect of the loofah component on the living body and the physiological effect of the nitric oxide-producing substance on the living body.

JP 7-324039 A

  The object of the present invention is to improve dry syndrome symptoms such as dry mouth, dry eye, and dry skin, food for specified health use, dietary supplement, functional food, composition for improving dry syndrome, dry skin It is in providing the food / beverage products which can be utilized for the composition for improvement, the composition for moisture improvement, etc.

  As a result of diligent research to achieve the above object, the inventors of the present invention have used a combination of loofah and nitric oxide (NO) -producing substance, and by their synergistic physiological effect, water permeation function of living cells. Has been found to be able to be enhanced, and the present invention has been completed.

That is, the present invention has the following configuration.
[1] Food and drink containing loofah and / or a processed product thereof and a nitric oxide (NO) -producing substance.
[2] The food and drink according to [1], wherein the loofah is an edible spot (Luffa aegyptiaca) or a spot spot (Luffa cylindrica).
[3] The food or drink according to [1] or [2], wherein the nitric oxide (NO) -producing substance is citrulline, arginine, argininosuccinic acid, or a salt thereof.
[4] Any of [1] to [3] containing 0.25 to 62% by mass of the loofah and / or a processed product thereof and 0.5 to 38% by mass of the nitric oxide (NO) -producing substance. Food or drink according to one.
[5] The food or drink according to any one of [1] to [4], which is used for improving dry syndrome.
[6] The food or drink according to [5], wherein improvement of dry syndrome is improvement of skin moisture.

  According to the food and drink of the present invention, the combined use of loofah and a nitric oxide (NO) -producing substance can enhance the water permeation function of living cells due to their synergistic physiological effects. Symptoms of dry syndrome such as dry mouth, dry eye and dry skin can be improved. In particular, it has an excellent effect of improving skin moisture.

It is a table | surface which shows the result of having investigated the improvement effect of the moisture of the skin by ingestion of an edible spatula. It is a graph which shows the result of having investigated the improvement effect of the moisture of the skin by ingestion of citrulline. It is a table | surface which shows the result of having investigated the improvement effect of the moisture of the skin by combined use ingestion of edible hechima and citrulline. It is the microscope picture of the dome formation of MDCK I monolayer cell, and its schematic diagram. It is a graph which shows the increase in the number of dome formation (number of domes / field) at the time of NO stimulation. 6 is a chart showing suppression of the number of domes / field when NO stimulation is inhibited by a NO erasing agent. It is a microscope picture when investigating the dome formation promotion effect of MDCK I cell by an edible spatula and NO production agent. It is a graph which shows the increase in the number of dome formation (number of domes / field) by an edible hemp and NO production agent.

  In the present invention, loofah and / or a processed product thereof is used as one of the components.

  Loofah is a plant of the family Cucurbitaceae, and examples of the harvest from the plant Loofah include vines, leaves, stems, flowers, fruits, underground parts, plant sap, etc. Alternatively, a plurality or all of these may be used. In particular, an edible portion (fruit) of an edible hematoma is preferred because it has food experience. Examples of the loofah include edible sea urchin (Luffa aegyptiaca) and sea urchin (Luffa cylindrica).

  As the form of loofah and / or processed product thereof used in the present invention, a sample of plant loofah may be used as it is, and those obtained by subdividing into appropriate sizes, dried products thereof, or pulverized products thereof may be used. Can be used. Moreover, the extract extracted by means, such as solvent extraction and steam distillation, its dried material, or the ground material, etc. can also be used. From the viewpoint of using the harvest from plant loof as it is, and from the viewpoint of easy mixing with other compounding materials, it is a lyophilized product of the edible portion of the edible spatula used in the examples described later. It is preferable to use a product in the form of powder.

  In the present invention, a nitric oxide (NO) -producing substance is used as the other component.

  In the present invention, the nitric oxide (NO) -producing substance is an effect of promoting the production of nitric oxide in vivo by, for example, ingestion, instillation, or application to the skin as an external preparation. Means a substance having

  Preferred examples of substances that produce nitric oxide include citrulline, arginine, argininosuccinic acid, or salts thereof, or precursors thereof that are converted into these substances when ingested by a living body. That is, in vivo generation of nitric oxide occurs through a reaction cycle represented by the following conceptual formula, so if an intermediate substance in the reaction cycle is ingested, nitric oxide is generated through the reaction cycle. .

  In particular, citrulline is preferable because it reaches the target body part without being decomposed, metabolized or excreted by the liver. Citrulline has long been used as an OTC drug overseas, and is a type of amino acid that was approved as a food in Japan in 2007, and is abundant in vines such as watermelon. Wild watermelons that grow naturally in intense sunlight and extremely dry and harsh environments contain a particularly large amount of citrulline, which is thought to play a major role in surviving dry environments.

  Examples of nitric oxide (NO) -producing substances include tiger cane, japonicus, serpentine, malt, mulberry white bark, glutinous rice, yam, floating hail, 姜 huang, Yong Hou, described in JP-A-7-324039. It is also possible to use one or more herbal medicines or extracts thereof selected from oysters, benevolent herbs, Aoki incense, carrots and yellow rice.

  As shown in Examples described later, by taking in combination of loofah and nitric oxide (NO) -producing substance, the water permeation function of living cells can be enhanced by their synergistic physiological effect. . It is particularly effective in improving skin moisture. Therefore, this can be used for improving symptoms of dry syndrome such as dry mouth, dry eye, and dry skin.

  When the present invention is used as a food for specified health use, a dietary supplement, a functional food or the like, examples of the food and drink include confectionery such as chocolate, biscuits, gum, candy, cookies, gummi, and tableted confectionery. Cereals; beverages such as powdered drinks, soft drinks, milk drinks, nutritional drinks, carbonated drinks, jelly drinks; frozen desserts such as ice cream and sherbet. Furthermore, noodles such as buckwheat, pasta, udon, and somen can be preferably exemplified. Moreover, in the case of foods for specified health use, dietary supplements, and the like, they may be in the form of powders, granules, capsules, syrups, tablets, sugar-coated tablets and the like. In addition, when using as a composition for improving dry syndrome, a composition for improving dry skin, a composition for improving skin moisture, etc., if necessary, a base or a carrier is added to form tablets, granules. In addition to oral preparations such as powders, powders, liquids, powders, granules, capsules, jelly-like preparations, ophthalmic preparations such as eye drops, ointments, creams, gels, packs, lotions, It can be commercialized as an external preparation for skin such as cosmetics.

  In order to effectively exhibit the synergistic physiological effect of loofah and nitric oxide (NO) -producing substance, 0.25 to 62 mass of loofah and / or processed product thereof in the above food or drink or composition. It is preferable to contain 0.5% to 38% by mass of a nitric oxide (NO) producing substance.

  Loofah and / or its processed product and nitric oxide (NO) -producing substance may be taken orally in combination and act from within the body, or act externally from outside the body. You may do it. Below, the aspect using the freeze-dried material or its extract of the edible part of the edible sea urchin used in the Example mentioned later and citrulline is demonstrated.

・ Dry mouse By ingesting lyophilized or extract of edible portion of edible spatula and citrulline orally or letting it stay in the oral cavity for a certain period of time, it directly affects the secretory pathway of saliva, An effect of improving dry mouth can be obtained. Ingestion amount when orally ingested is about 100-5000 mg in terms of dry solids of edible edible edible portion lyophilized or extract thereof, per day for adult edible edible, and It is preferable to make citrulline about 200-3000 mg. Of course, an oral preparation such as a candy, troche, chewable tablet, mouthwash and the like may be directly acted on the salivary secretion pathway so as to remain in the oral cavity for a certain period of time. In the case of candy, troches, chewable tablets, etc., the application amount is 0 in terms of the dry solids of the edible portion of the edible blister or the extract thereof in the composition. It is preferable to contain approximately 25 to 62% by mass of citrulline and approximately 0.5 to 38% by mass of citrulline. Moreover, in the case of mouthwash etc., the freeze-dried material or extract of the edible edible edible portion in the composition is about 0.005 to 35% by mass in terms of dry solids of the edible edible edible portion. It is preferable to contain and apply citrulline in an amount of about 0.01 to 20% by mass.

・ Dry eye Oral administration of lyophilized or extract of edible edible edema and citrulline or instilled as an external ophthalmic preparation promotes tear secretion, An eye improvement effect can be obtained. Ingestion amount when orally ingested is about 100-5000 mg in terms of dry solids of edible edible edible portion lyophilized or extract thereof, per day for adult edible edible, and It is preferable to make citrulline about 200-3000 mg. When applied as an ophthalmic external preparation such as an ophthalmic preparation, the applied amount is an extract of the edible portion of an edible blister when used once to use about 1 to 6 times a day. It is preferable to apply about 100 to 5000 mg of citrulline and about 0.005 to 10 mg of citrulline, in terms of dry solids of the edible portion of the edible spatula.

・ Dry skin Ingestion of edible edible portion of edible spatula or its extract and citrulline orally ingested or applied to the skin as an external skin preparation to increase skin moisture and dry A skin improvement effect can be obtained. Ingestion amount when orally ingested is about 100-5000 mg in terms of dry solids of edible edible edible portion lyophilized or extract thereof, per day for adult edible edible, and It is preferable to make citrulline about 200-3000 mg. In addition, an external preparation for skin such as an ointment, cream, gel, pack, lotion, cosmetics, etc. may be allowed to act directly on the skin so that it stays at the application site for a certain period of time. The applied amount of the edible edible portion of edible hematoma is about 1.0 to 50 mg / cm ² per unit area in terms of dry solids of edible hematoma edible portion, and citrulline that is preferably applied 2.5 to 30 mg / cm ² degree.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to examples, but these examples do not limit the scope of the present invention.

<Test Example 1>
The effect of edible hemp on the moisture of the skin was investigated.
(1) Preparation of test sample
As a test sample for skin evaluation test, edible hechima freeze dried product (edible hechima edible part, Okinawa product) is ground in a mortar and mixed with 0.5g or 1.Og and dextrin, 3g in total. A powdery composition was prepared. In addition, 3 g of dextrin was used as a placebo. Table 1 shows the relationship between the composition of each test sample and the test group of the skin evaluation test.

(2) Skin evaluation test The volunteers of 13 healthy men and women were divided into 4 edible hechima low dose (0.5g) groups, 5 edible hechima high dose (1.Og) groups, and 4 placebo groups. A sample or dextrin (placebo group) was taken with water once a day for 5 days, and the effect on the skin moisture content was examined. The study was conducted by single-blind parallel group comparison. In addition, the skin moisture content is measured by measuring the skin moisture content (100-step evaluation) of the forearm with a skin moisture content meter ("Triplesense" manufactured by Moritex Co., Ltd.) before and after the start of the test. This was evaluated as the rate of change (%) in the total amount of skin moisture after ingestion when the moisture value before the test was taken as 100. The result is shown in FIG. 1A. Moreover, in FIG. 1B, the result is shown as a skin moisture improvement degree (times) with the rate of change of the amount of skin moisture after taking placebo as 1.

(3) Results / Summary Changes in skin moisture content of 78.4%, 97.0%, and 104.1%, respectively, by ingesting dextrin (placebo group) or edible chyma freeze dried product (0.5g or 1.0g) for 5 days Met. In addition, compared with the placebo group, the skin moisture improvement degree was 1.2 times in the edible hematoma low dose (0.5 g) group and 1.3 times in the edible hematoma high dose (1.Og) group. From the above, it has been clarified that ingestion of an edible hematoma lyophilizate can improve skin moisture and improve skin moisture.

<Test Example 2>
The effects of citrulline intake on skin moisture were investigated.
(1) Preparation of test sample
As a test sample for performing a skin evaluation test, 0.4 g, 0.8 g, or 1.6 g of citrulline (manufactured by Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd.) and dextrisi were mixed to prepare a total of 3 g of a powdery composition. In addition, 3 g of dextrin was used as a placebo. Table 2 shows the relationship between the composition of each test sample and the test group of the skin evaluation test.

(2) Skin Evaluation Test 13 healthy male and female volunteers were divided into 4 citrulline low dose (0.4 g) groups, 3 citrulline mid dose (0.8 g) groups, 3 citrulline high dose (1.6 g) groups, 3 placebo groups. The test samples or dextrin (placebo group) were taken with water once a day for 5 days to examine the effect on the skin moisture content. The study was conducted by single-blind parallel group comparison. In addition, the skin moisture content is measured by measuring the skin moisture content (100-step evaluation) of the forearm with a skin moisture content meter ("Triplesense" manufactured by Moritex Co., Ltd.) before and after the start of the test. This was evaluated as the rate of change (%) in the total amount of skin moisture after ingestion when the moisture value before the test was taken as 100. The result is shown in FIG. 2A. Moreover, in FIG. 2B, the result is shown as a skin moisture improvement degree (times) with the rate of change of the total amount of skin moisture after taking placebo as 1.

(3) Results and Summary By taking dextrin (placebo group) or citrulline (0.4g, 0.8g, or 1.6g) for 5 days, the skin moisture content of 80.5%, 96.3%, 83.2%, 85.7%, respectively. Change rate. Compared with the placebo group, the skin water improvement rate was 1.2 times in the citrulline low dose (0.4 g) group, 0.9 times in the citrulline medium dose (0.8 g) group, and 1.0 times in the citrulline high dose (1.6 g) group. there were. From the above, it was clarified that skin moisture was improved in the citrulline low dose (0.4 g) group and an improvement effect of skin moisture could be expected, but the citrulline medium dose (0.8 g) group or citrulline high dose (1.6 g) The group did not show further improvement, but rather did not show improvement as did the placebo group. Therefore, it was considered that the effect of citrulline on improving skin moisture had already reached a plateau in the low dose range of citrulline.

<Test Example 3>
The effect of combined use of edible hemp and citrulline on skin moisture was investigated.
(1) Preparation of test sample
As a test sample for conducting a skin evaluation test, the above-mentioned edible hematoma lyophilisate, citrulline, and dextrin were mixed in the composition shown in Table 3 below to prepare a total of 3 g of a powdery composition. In addition, 3 g of dextrin was used as a placebo. Table 3 shows the relationship between the composition of each test sample and the test group of the skin evaluation test.

(2) Skin Evaluation Test 17 healthy men and women volunteers were grouped into 4 people in the citrulline group, 4 people in the edible hechima group, 5 people in the edible hechima + citrulline group, 4 people in the placebo group, and the test sample or dextrin (placebo group) ) Once a day for 5 days with water to examine the effect on the skin moisture content. The study was conducted by single-blind parallel group comparison. In addition, the skin moisture content is measured by measuring the skin moisture content (100-step evaluation) of the forearm with a skin moisture content meter ("Triplesense" manufactured by Moritex Co., Ltd.) before and after the start of the test. This was evaluated as the rate of change (%) in the total amount of skin moisture after ingestion when the moisture value before the test was taken as 100. The result is shown in FIG. 3A. Moreover, in FIG. 3B, the result is shown as a skin moisture improvement degree (times) with the rate of change of the amount of skin moisture after taking the placebo as 1.

(3) Results / Summary Dextrin (placebo group) or citrulline (0.4 g), edible boiled freeze dried product (0.5 g), “edible boiled freeze dried product (0.5 g) + citrulline (0.4 g)” for 5 days As a result, the skin moisture content change rate was 82.3%, 105.3%, 101.4%, and 136.4%, respectively. In addition, compared with the placebo group, the skin moisture improvement degree was 1.28 times in the citrulline group, 1.23 times in the edible hechima group, and 1.66 times in the edible hechima + citrulline group. In general, the amount of citrulline contained in boiled rice is about 0.057% by mass, and it was clear that the effect of the edible boiled potato freeze-dried product was not due to citrulline.

  In Test Example 1 and Test Example 2, the improvement in skin moisture reached a plateau by ingestion of 0.4 g of citrulline, and the improvement in skin moisture almost reached a plateau by ingestion of 0.5 g of edible hematoma lyophilizate. Therefore, even if these intakes were increased alone, no further improvement in skin moisture could be expected. In contrast, in Test Example 3, the combined use of edible hematoma lyophilizate and citrulline significantly improved the skin moisture level (1.66 times the placebo), and synergistically improved skin moisture. Rukoto has been shown.

  Therefore, it was considered that by using both loofah and a nitric oxide (NO) producing substance in combination, a remarkably excellent skin moisture improvement effect can be obtained by their synergistic physiological effects.

<Test Example 4>
The effect of NO stimulation by nitric oxide-producing substances on the water permeation function of living cells was examined using cultured cells. MDCK I cells were used as cultured cells for that purpose. MDCK I (Madin-Darby Canine Kidney) cells are canine kidney-derived cells, and the cells form a monolayer sheet on the plate. In addition, it was known that when cells were stimulated, some of the cells swelled in an arch shape, forming a “dome” in which salt and water inside and outside the cell flowed and accumulated in the gap between the culture plate and the monolayer cell ( FIG. 4 shows a micrograph of the dome formation and a conceptual diagram thereof. Therefore, if such dome formation was promoted, it was thought that the enhancement of the water permeation function of cells could be evaluated. Specifically, the test was conducted as follows.

[Cell culture]
MDCK I cells derived from canine kidney purchased from DS Pharma Biomedical Co., Ltd. were cultured in a MEM medium (manufactured by GIBCO) containing 10% FBS in a 5% CO ₂ environment at 37 ° C. according to a conventional method. In addition, 100 U / ml penicillin and 100 mg / ml streptomycin were added to the medium.

[Dome formation test by NO stimulation]
The MDCK I cells were seeded on a 24-well culture plate at a cell density of 2.5 × 10 ⁵ cells / well, and it was confirmed that the cells reached confluence. As a nitric oxide producing substance for NO stimulation, NOC18 (manufactured by Dojin Chemical Laboratories Co., Ltd.), which is a NO producing agent, was used. This NOC18 was dissolved in 10 mM NaOH and added to the cells that reached the confluence so that the final concentrations were 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5 mM. After incubating for 20 hours in a 5% CO ₂ environment at 37 ° C, the number of domes / number of domes / field). FIG. 5 is a graph showing the results.

[NO stimulation inhibition by NO scavenger]
The effect of erasing NO with a NO erasing agent was investigated. Specifically, a reagent that selectively reacts with NO to generate NO ₂ and eliminates NO, Carboxy-PTIO (2- (4-Carboxyphenyl) -4, 4, 5, 5-tetramethylimidazoline-1- oxyl-3-oxide) (manufactured by Dojindo Laboratories Co., Ltd.) is added to the cells that have reached the confluence at final concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 mM, and then NOC18 is added to a final concentration of 0.2 mM. Incubated for 20 hours at 37 ° C. in 5% CO ₂ environment. The number of dome formations was counted in the same manner as described above. FIG. 6 is a graph showing the results.

[Result Summary]
By adding NOC18, which is a NO producing agent, to MDCK I cells, an increase in the number of dome formation was observed in a concentration-dependent manner (FIG. 5). As a result of erasing NO by NOC18 with Carboxy-PTIO, dome formation was suppressed depending on the Carboxy-PTIO concentration (Fig. 6). Therefore, it was revealed that the dome formation of MDCK I monolayer cells was enhanced by NO stimulation.

<Test Example 5>
The effects of edible hematopoiesis and NO-producing agents on the dome formation of MDCK I cells were investigated.
(1) Preparation of edible hechima extract About 10.8 g of edible hechima freeze-dried product (edible hechima edible part, produced in Okinawa), the mixture was pulverized with a mill mixer and extracted with 200 mL of 80% ethanol for 2 hours. The obtained extract was filtered through a glass filter, ethanol was removed from the filtrate by an evaporator, and 32 mL of water was further added to 18 mL of the remaining aqueous solution. This aqueous solution was subjected to liquid-liquid partition twice using 100 mL of ethyl acetate, and the ethyl acetate phase was collected and concentrated to obtain 146.9 mg of a fat-soluble substance. This was subjected to the following test as an edible hechima extract. In general, proteins were not extracted with an organic solvent such as ethyl acetate, and it was difficult to think that the obtained extract contained nitric oxide synthase (NOS) or the like. Moreover, even if it was mixed, it was considered to be denatured and deactivated by treatment with an organic solvent.

(2) Dome Formation Experiment MDCK I cell dome formation experiment was performed in the same manner as in Test Example 4 above. That is, MDCK I cells were seeded in a 24-well culture plate so that the cell density was 2.5 × 10 ⁵ cells / well, and it was confirmed that the cells reached confluence after 24 hours. Thereafter, the medium was replaced with a medium containing 0.2 mM NOC18, or a medium containing 1 mg / mL of the above-mentioned spotted extract, or a medium containing 0.2 mM NOC18 and 1 mg / mL of the spotted extract at the same time. . In addition, after the said edible kimchi extract was dissolved in DMSO, the edible kimchi extract was adjusted to 1 mg / mL, and the DMSO amount in the medium was adjusted to 1% per 1 mL of the medium and added to the medium. Incubate in a 37 ° C, 5% CO ₂ environment, and after 21 hours, observe with a phase-contrast microscope (X 40). / field). FIG. 7 shows the micrograph, and FIG. 8 shows the result of the number of dome formation.

(3) Results / Summary As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the dome was not formed in the control without any addition, whereas in the medium containing 0.2 mM NOC18, 18 dome per field of view was formed. In the medium that formed and contained 1 mg / mL of spotted extract, 51 domes were formed per field of view. Furthermore, in a medium containing 0.2 mM NOC18 and 1 mg / mL of the extract of huchi extract at the same time, 123 domes were formed per field of view, and the formation of domes was synergistically enhanced.

  It was thought that if such dome formation was promoted, the water permeation function of the cells could be enhanced. Therefore, the combined use of loofah and a nitric oxide (NO) -producing substance enhances the water permeation function of living cells by their synergistic physiological effects, such as dry mouth, dry eye, and dry skin. The effect of improving the symptoms of dry syndrome was considered to be obtained.

Claims (6)

  A food or drink containing loofah and / or a processed product thereof and a nitric oxide (NO) -producing substance.   The food or drink according to claim 1, wherein the loofah is an edible spot (Luffa aegyptiaca) or spotted spot (Luffa cylindrica).   The food or drink according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the nitric oxide (NO) -producing substance is citrulline, arginine, argininosuccinic acid, or a salt thereof.   The said loofah and / or its processed material are contained 0.25-62 mass%, The said nitric oxide (NO) production | generation substance is contained 0.5-38 mass%, It is any one of Claims 1-3. Food and drink.   The food or drink according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is used for improving dry syndrome.   The food and drink according to claim 5, wherein the improvement of dry syndrome is improvement of skin moisture.